George Washington hair up for auction at Lelands

The description of the item is straight enough, handwritten in ink with a flourish: “George Washington’s hair — cut from his head in the year 1799.”

This small lock of gray-blonde hair is now up for auction through Lelands, a sports auction house based in New Jersey which typically deals in such things as football jerseys and historic sports equipment.

“These multiple strands of George Washington’s hair have been thoughtfully stored in this hand-made brass and glass locket for many years. Believed to have been removed from our First President close to or after his death in 1799,” the organization said in the item description, calling it a “well-documented specimen.”

Seven online bids have come in for the item, with the top bid reaching $1,771 as of Sunday. The bidding closes Friday.

Washington’s hair is a big attraction though. A similar item — a lock of the first president’s hair which once belonged to the family of Alexander Hamilton — went for $35,763 in a Leland’s auction event in 2019; 25 eager bidders vied for ownership.

“Artifacts associated with the nation’s first president are highly coveted by museums, history buffs, and memorabilia collectors alike,” the auctioneer said in a statement.